asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he intends to implement the Council Directive to protect the consumer in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

28.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if the European Commission has taken proceedings or notified the Government of its intention to take proceedings over non-implementation of the Directive on contracts negotiated away from business premises under Article 169 of the EC Treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 28 together.

At present, regulations to give effect to the provisions of Council Directive 85/577 relating to the protections of consumers in respect of contracts negotiated away from business premises are at an advanced stage of drafting. Draft regulations will be circulated to interested parties shortly and I would hope to be in a position to make them by early 1989. The regulations will, inter alia, allow consumers who enter into contracts of this nature a “cooling off” period of not less than seven days in which to consider their position and to cancel the contract if they wish.

I have recently received a notification from the EC Commission under Article 169 of the EC Treaty relating to the non-implementation of the Directive and I propose to notify the Commission shortly of my proposals in this regard.

Is there any particular reason for the delay, why Article 169 had to be used in this case?

There is no particular reason. There was pressure of work. It has to take its place in the queue the same as every other regulation and piece of legislation in the House or the Department. We all know what we are trying to get at — doorstep selling of insurance, for example, which we intend to stamp out. We intend to have the regulations put into action as soon as possible.